New York's Healthcare Staffing Order Promotes Telehealth, Mobile Integrated Health

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order that will enable the state’s healthcare providers to use telehealth to address staffing shortages caused by the ongoing pandemic and vaccine mandate.

Among other things the order, signed on September 27, allows out-of-state care providers, including physicians, RNs, LPNs, NPs, PAs, midwives, clinical nurse specialists, licensed master social workers and licensed clinical social workers to treat patients in New York via telehealth, allows virtual visits in nursing homes, and allows EMTs and Advanced EMTs to use mobile integrated health platforms, including community paramedicine, to provide care for patients in alternative locations.

The provisions are couched in a six-page order focused on expanding the healthcare workforce in the state to ramp up COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and to offset staffing losses caused by former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s August mandate that all healthcare workers be vaccinated.

"The only way we can move past this pandemic is to ensure that everyone eligible is vaccinated, and that includes those who are taking care of our vulnerable family members and loved ones," Hochul said last week. "On Saturday I released a comprehensive plan in advance of the deadline for the vaccine mandate that keeps New Yorkers safe, and tonight I am adding even more provisions to take bold action to alleviate potential staffing shortages. To monitor developments on the ground, I am also directing an around-the-clock operations center to assist local partners and troubleshoot staffing issues in real time." 

The announcement opens the door to new connected health services that could help healthcare providers expand access not only to COVID-19 care, but other care as well.

Some of these services were included in emergency measures put in place during the height of the pandemic to improve coverage of and access to telehealth services, which expired earlier this year. New York is one of many states grappling with proposals to make some or all of those measures permanent, allowing telehealth momentum to continue.

This latest order could give providers an opportunity to prove the value of certain services, such as telemedicine for nursing homes and MIH and community paramedicine programs, and contribute to the conversation around establishing a long-term telehealth policy.

Hochul’s emergency order expires in 30 days, through October 27.